Rock Star

The butterfly paper is DCWV? cut using Elegant Edges cart-butterfly frame and stretched on my Gypsy to get the size I wanted. I used Cuttlebug-Distressed Stripes on a strip of pink metallic paper all mounted on DCWV black cardstock background. The guitar is cut using the Rock Princess cart and the bling is a DCWV adhesive gems sticker word. I matted the pictures with pink metallic (big) and lt. blue cardstock (2 smaller).

What I really want to highlight about this page is the paper saving, or as I call it --too lazy to get another sheet of paper. haha

The photo on the right is showing what's missing. The photo on the left is showing how my patterned paper ended up on the finished layout. This is where I cut my guitar pieces! Then I just covered it up with my patterned paper and no one is the wiser! Except you blog readers!

So call it frugal scrapping or laziness, but use your paper wisely and you too can be wise in the way of paper saving, or just creatively lazy :)

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

Back for another scrapbooking challenge

I finished this layout in time to post it to the "Getting Scrappy Challenge..#9 use a stamp".

I used 3 SU background stamps and a CTMH flower stem stamp on the title. I cut the title with my Cricut-and welded it with my Gypsy. Then I inked each letter with TH Distress Ink-Milled Lavender, stamped the design with versamark, and covered with clear embossing powder and heat set. Once it cooled, I covered each letter with TH Distress Ink-Dusty Concord. Alot of trouble for a title, but I love the emboss resist technique.

I finally used my Doodlebug glitter paper and gems that I've been holding on to for years! My Cricut cuts are the scalloped circle border from Elegant Edges and the title from Mickey Font. I also got to use my newest MS punch--I don't know what's its called but I love this vine. My favorite SU corner punch accented the photos.

I just can't manage to get a good photo of my scrapbook pages. IRL, the purples are much richer and there is lots of bling! Thanks for looking! Now go to the link above to see the other challenge layouts!!

Tryscrapbooking,
Lara

Scrappy Saturday's Challenge #2

I'm back! Another challenge--this time "Something Lovey". This was actually difficult for me. I had NO idea what I was going to use. Then I found some pictures I had printed and hadn't been scrapped. What better way to enter a "lovey" challenge than to scrap pictures taken at Boldt Castle on Heart Island!! It's a beautiful place and if you're ever in Alexandria Bay, NY, then please take a boat tour or taxi and visit. It's a true love story and a beautiful location. Hey, I should know. I worked there for 3 summers and hoped to get married there one day. (check that one off the list, lol!)

Back to businees--the cartridges I used:

• Hearts--Gypsy Wanderings, hiding the highlight. The one on the left I took off the proportion link and stretched to get as big as would fit in approx. 6 in wide and not be too tall for the page.
• Boldt Castle--Creative Memories Cheerful Seasons, with a shadow.
• Heart Island--Gypsy Font, welded using my gypsy.

Let's take a closer look. I'm still working on how to take a good picture of a 2 page layout.

Base cardstock is DCWV. I have so much of this! I'm trying to use it as much as possible because I don't like it. The textured surface really makes it difficult to get things to stick. The patterned paper is from CM. Have I ever mentioned before just how much scrapbooking stuff I have?? Let's put it this way, I would never have to buy another thing again and still have plenty for my grandkids to leave their wills. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the choices I have and wind up not getting anything accomplished.

Anyway, this was fun. Glad to be scrapping again! Maybe I'll even do another layout before the next challenge is announced!!

Tryscrapbooking,
Lara

Jumping into the Challenge Ring!!

I finally found a Cricut -Scrapbooking Challenge--Scrappy Saturday with the Bug. I'm hoping to be inspired to use what I have--too many cricut carts!!! Thanks to Amanda and Melissa for getting this started!!

This was the first challenge issued--Anything Goes.

• Must be a new layout for this challenge
• Must link directly to the project and not just your blog or gallery
• Please use a Cricut or SVG cut somewhere on your layout
• You will have one week to submit your page

Here's my layout:

I used 5 different cartridges on this layout.

• tree-Stretch Your Imagination
• alligator-Animal Kingdom
• Miss.-50 States
• look closely & scenic route-Graphically Speaking
• shrub border-Everyday Paper Dolls

I embossed the tree with my Cuttlebug and Distressed Stripes, inked a little with Colorbox Chalk ink. The ribbon is CTMH Chocolate Collection. Most of the cardstock is from DCWV, the rest out of my scraps. Due to my poor photography skills and the snow storm outside, I couldn't get a decent picture. What's really not showing up is the 2 layer shrub border, (pg 77-headwear and accessory 2). I guess I should have inked it, but it was already stuck down when I realized it.

Well, that's it for my first challenge. Hope I followed all the rules. If anything, I was inspired to create, used scrapbook stuff I already had and had fun!!

Tryscrapbooking,
Lara

So Peyton

Here's another layout I did recently. I've had it 95% completed for a LOOONNNGGG time. I recently found my inspiration picture and decided to finish it off. I used my Cricut (Gypsy and 5 fonts) to create the subtitles.

So...dust off a layout that you've had sitting around and get to work!!

Tryscrapbooking,
Lara

Christmas in June

I've been rather lost in a muddle of scrapper's block. Not really creating much at all, other than a few cards. I haven't made a scrapbook page that I was really proud of it quite some time.

Well....Thursday night, inspiration struck! I had a sketch and some Basic Grey paper that I've had for years. I'm proud to say that I used what I had in my stash!! Yay me! Now I can buy some new stuff...hahaha.

The striped paper was wrinkled and distressed with TH inks, then tucked and folded into a circle shape around the middle circles and also used along the border on the left side. It really gives the paper a fabric appearance. I cut the circles, the scroll and the Santa face with my Cricut. The paper, tag and letter stickers were Basic Grey-Fruitcake. The scroll will be for my journaling. I also used CTMH stamps to add "December" and "Wish".

I'm pleased with this layout and hope the slump is over!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

April Fools!!

We're April Fools every year! We started this tradition when Kenna was 3 years old. I found the idea in a magazine. I liked the idea of playing an April Fools' Day trick, without being mean. So, I made a "cake" out of meatloaf and "hamburgers" out of cookies. My daughter thought this was a great way to trick Daddy. We've been doing it every year since.

Under the close-ups of the "cake" and "cookies" is a tab that you can lift up to reveal your family's recipe. This is so easy to make! Having small children in the house, it's dinner you can make it steps, so you're not in the kitchen for very long spots of time.

Hope you had a Happy April Fools' Day!!
Tryscrapbooking,
Lara

More titles to share...

Found some more examples of titles. Just pictures of different ways to use your fonts.

This title was cut using a Sizzix machine. It was one of those "happy accidents." I only had a small scrap of the cranberry CS to cut my letters. Anyway, while cutting the letters, my inexperience with the machine, I guess produced some cuts that didn't produce a clean cut. Trying to salvage my paper, I had to use my scissors to cut the letters. But to cut the letters out, I needed to be able to get into some tight areas, so I trimmed the letters that didn't cut so well into odd shapes. When I finally got the letters out, I liked the negative even better, so I went with that. This is actually the left page of a 2-page layout. The pictures were taken by holding the camera up and grabbing each daughter to capture a close up. Some of my favorite pictures.

This title was cut with my Cricut. I mixed upper and lowercase letters for a "random" look. I also cut out the shadow layer using solid pink cardstock and off-set the base letter, cut in Metallic pink paper. When you use the shadow layer, don't always line it up in the center, off-set it for a 3-D look.

This title was cut using the Coluzzle system. I used a light blue CS as the base, tore a strip of med. blue CS and adhered that to the lt. blue. Finally, tore a dk. blue CS and adhered that to the med. blue on the bottom third of the letter. I wanted an "ocean" feel to the title, since I was journaling about my in-laws reaching the other side of the country on their first cross-country trip.

Ruth, I wished I had taken a picture of the title you created on Saturday's New Year crop! She ran her die cut letters through her Cuttlebug embossing folder and then inked them!! Another fun way to get a new look out of your fonts!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

What's in a name?

What to do when you only have one or two fonts for your favorite die-cut machine? Alter them!!
When I first started out, I used the Coluzzle system-plastic templates used to handcut your paper using a special swivel blade. A time-consuming process, but it was cheaper than a Sizzix. (**You can use these tips on any title you create, using any method to cut out your titles.)

This first sample is just a simple title that is using the base letter (yellow) and shadowed or matted (white).

2nd example uses the same font as the first one, I just emphasized the bubble theme by first punching a strip of blue CS with the CM bubble punch, then cutting out my letters. I tried to place bubbles near the natural letter openings so you could still read the letter, finally shadowed in white CS.

3rd example-again using the exact same font as the first two. This time, I took a cue from the photos. I wanted the title to look like what I was photographing. I used various colors of CS as the base letter, shadowed in yellow CS. Each letter was then "sprinkled" with the confetti from several small punches.

(Sorry for the rotated pictures, can't figure out why?)

4th example-once again, using the same font--I handcut a drippy icicle shape out of strip of white CS and ran it through my X-sticker maker. Then I layered the sticky white icicle strip on strips of CS (orange, green and pink) and cut out each letter, so that I got some of the colored CS and the wavy white. I wanted it to look snow-tipped on the top.

All simple techniques to alter a font. Using these suggestions, you can use the same font over and over in your scrapbooks and no one will be the wiser.

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

SNOW time like the PRESENT!!

For those of you who have been patiently waiting for the next blog entry....I've decided to post 2 projects today! My computer is now up and running top speed!!-thanks to the tech-y husband.

SNOW TIME.....

I created this layout for a swap. It was a simple design  meant to use your 4x6 photos, no cropping required! I cut strips from a DCWV paper pack (can't remember exactly which one). The main technique I want to focus on for this page is the title. I cut the letters out in vellum using my Cricut- Mickey Font. I used Liquid Applique on each letter. **If you've never used this before, you should try it. It has a tip so you can really place it where you'd like and then get that heat gun out!! The Liquid Applique PUFFS up!! So cool. I've gotten more compliments on this layout just for that technique. When I was adding the photos to the layout, I thought it still needed something, so I used a white marker to draw a stitched outline on each of the letters. I thought it made them pop more. Be careful when heating....vellum is VERY easy to burn and it will turn brown. The pink rectangle is supposed to be the journaling box (notice the "blankness"). Hope you like it!

...THE PRESENT!!!

I signed up for a Christmas Thank You card swap in Dec. 2007. I had to create a card using "The 3 Wise Men" as my inspiration. So I thought a little pull-out insert would be cute. It was pretty simple to make. I used Basic Grey's Blitzen paper. A little stamped sentiment and Voila!! (BTW, tooting my own horn here....I was voted the best card! A total shock to me since there were some beautiful entries. Thanks, MW!)

Have fun, tell your friends!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

Apples!

I created this layout on my first scrapbook weekend retreat. Again, another hand-drawn tree that I just inked. I also used some Creative Memories pieces-the apple-filled crates. I used apple die cuts for the left side border accents and just red cardstock to mat a few key pictures. Pretty simple layout, but that's the direction I tend to lean. I chose the title, "Apple Pickin' Up" because all the apples had dropped from the trees about a week before we made it. Still perfectly good apples on the good and easier for the kids to get. Beautiful day, and although there aren't pictures to prove it, Salina and her kids were there too.

We rake, we pile, we JUMP!!

This was the layout I designed and created for the Fall Swap (same one as the previous post). I drew the tree shape by hand (using my arm as a guide), cut it out and embossed a wood grain texture, then inked it up. Next the 2 big leaves--I traced a leaf shape and handcut them all out, folded "veins" into the paper and inked the lines, then I swiped several Colorbox inks over it to give it a more realistic coloring. Next, I used a Chatterbox template and dotted lines for movement. The leaf border at the bottom is a patterned paper by DCWV that I hand cut. There is a small tag hidden under the leaf pile for my journaling, with a cute fall-themed ribbon scrap from Doodlebug Design. Basic photo mats, nothing special. The Mickey font alphabet stamp set from CTMH (one of my fav alpha sets) made the title SUPER fast and easy to do. The main thing I want to point out in this layout is all the HAND cutting--keep in mind, that I had to make 17 of these. It was fun (I can say that now because it's over) and I was hoping to create a layout that was useful and fun!

Hope this inspires you to take some fun Fall leaf photos!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

Okay, since we're almost finished with October, I better get some fall things posted. This is a layout that I received in a swap I did (2 years ago?) from Joanne S. We had to make enough 2 page layouts for 17 people. (Far too many, in my opinion, but it was fun to get the pages once all the hard work was over.) That's a lot of pumpkins to cut out!!

I added 2 photos to the LO to make it fit what I needed. (The swap guidelines said 4 photo mats.) BUT...that's what so great about doing swaps!! Once they're yours, you can change things to fit what you need. I really didn't have to alter this one, but I have pried off photo mats on others to turn them to an orientation that fit my photos. So, that's my tip of the day....dust off those swap pages and alter them to fit what best suits your photos. I have LOTS of other swap pages that you'll see, so keep checking back and maybe you'll see a layout that YOU created!!

Tryscrapbooking,

Lara

This was the first scrapbook page I ever made---Jan. 2005. Like many people, I got started by going to a Creative Memories party (Thanks, Liz!!). WELL....I had seen the light!!! The next thing I knew, I was scouring the internet trying to learn all I could about scrapbooking!! I was hooked!!

This page features my daughter, Peyton. I'm sure you can see the circle cut with the CM cutting system (which I no longer use) and the wavy trimmer (sorry, don't use that anymore either). Still not bad for my first time out. I added the duck cut-out and dotted letter stickers (boy, that's dating things) later.

Keep checking back to see how my scrapbooks have evolved in the past 4 1/2 years!!
tryscrapbooking,
Lara